The GMAT Club » Cornellhttp://gmatclub.com/blog
MBA programs, Free GMAT Test, Admissions Consultants, and Business School - It's GMAT ClubSun, 02 Aug 2015 07:59:05 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.1Cornell Tech Receives $50 Million Gift from Verizonhttp://gmatclub.com/blog/2015/02/cornell-tech-receives-50-million-gift-from-verizon/
http://gmatclub.com/blog/2015/02/cornell-tech-receives-50-million-gift-from-verizon/#commentsFri, 13 Feb 2015 19:20:17 +0000http://gmatclub.com/blog/?p=27545Cornell Tech will open its new 12-acre Roosevelt Island campus in summer 2017, in part due to a recent $50 million gift from Verizon which will go towards the innovative Verizon Executive Education Center.

According to the Cornell Tech press release, “The center will be a place for the entire tech community to gather, a convening place to leverage the impact the campus has on technology beyond its degree programs. The center will be part of the first phase of the campus, which began construction last month and is due to open in the summer of 2017.”

The center in particular and Verizon’s involvement in general will not just help contribute to active technological innovation, but will “facilitate direct collaboration with other companies and Cornell Tech students to bring cutting-edge ideas to market.” It will facilitate cross-sector learning – for students, corporations, and customers, and will increase the number of internships, full-time positions, and scholarships for Cornell Tech students.

Lowell McAdam, Verizon Chairman and CEO, says: “Our donation to Cornell Tech is an investment in the future and fits perfectly with our mission to use communications technologies to solve big challenges and make people’s lives better. The Verizon Executive Education Center will be a magnet for developers, entrepreneurs, educators and innovators across all industries, building on the great talent and creativity we already have in the tech sector here in New York City.”

One of the most important things to keep in mind is brevity. While no one is going to be counting individual words, the guideline of short word count is a clear indicator to work on clarity of thought with all of your answers. Cornell interviews every applicant to its program, so if you are concerned that your answers are too concise in essay format, rest assured you will have the opportunity to discuss them further in the interview.

1. In a concise statement, indicate why you are seeking admission into an Executive MBA Program. Specifically, what are your short and long-term career goals? And, how will an MBA from Johnson at Cornell University help you achieve your goals? (Please limit your response to 1000 characters.)*

The first part of this question asks “Why EMBA?” By making the choice to go after an EMBA, you are of course signaling you will keep your job while going to school. Therefore, be sure to link your past/current career experience with your short and long term goals in the context of how (and why) this type of format works best for you. When answering the “Why Cornell?” portion of the question, be convincing about the reasons Cornell is the best choice for you, and show you have done your homework – “location” and “reputation” won’t cut it. The admissions committee wants to know what you anticipate the program will be like, what you will get out of it, how the program fits with your career vision, and what the entire experience means to you as a person.

2. A key benefit of being in an Executive MBA Program is having the ability to learn from your classmates, or peers. How will you contribute to this learning environment? Specifically, what unique strengths and experiences will you bring to both the class and your learning team? (Please limit your response to 1000 characters.)*

The admissions committee is looking for students who will enrich the class with their contributions as much as the curriculum taught. Focus on unique experiences you have had either in your professional or personal life, and if possible, link those experiences to how they will contribute to particular courses or topics.

Imagine that the admissions committee is reviewing your application side by side with someone with a similar basic profile to yours (technology consultant, for example) – what will make them choose you?

3. List your participation in civic, business, or professional organizations.

This question is purposely open to interpretation. If you would just like to list what organizations you are affiliated with that is fine, however if you would like to go into some detail about particular activities that are important to you, that is good, too. There is no word limit, however the more succinct, the better.

4. (Optional): Do you believe your academic record is an accurate reflection of your ability? If not, please explain, limiting the response to 1000 characters.

If you are hoping the admissions committee will miss the fact that you flunked algebra three times before passing, or you had to withdraw for a semester, think again. The committee WILL catch whatever that nagging something is that concerns you from your transcript, so here is the opportunity to talk about it. Be as candid as possible! It is much better to be upfront about the situation here than be on the defensive about it in an interview.

Application Timelines:

Both of Cornell's Executive MBA Programs operate on a rolling admissions basis. Therefore they do not adhere to strict application deadlines. With that said, they do encourage applicants to move forward at their earliest convenience to avoid potential seat capacity or timing restrictions.

Jen Weld worked as an admissions consultant and Former Asst. Dir. of Admissions at Cornell’s EMBA program (4 years) prior to joining Accepted.com. She has an additional 10 years of experience in higher ed and corporate marketing.

]]>http://gmatclub.com/blog/2014/12/cornell-2015-executive-mba-2015-essay-tips/feed/0Honing in On the Cornell Johnson MBAhttp://gmatclub.com/blog/2014/09/honing-in-on-the-cornell-johnson-mba/
http://gmatclub.com/blog/2014/09/honing-in-on-the-cornell-johnson-mba/#commentsThu, 18 Sep 2014 20:58:36 +0000http://gmatclub.com/blog/?p=25631There is no place like Ithaca. And if you don’t know why, you are about to find out.

]]>http://gmatclub.com/blog/2014/09/honing-in-on-the-cornell-johnson-mba/feed/0Johnson at Cornell University 2015 MBA Essay Tips & Deadlineshttp://gmatclub.com/blog/2014/09/johnson-at-cornell-university-2015-mba-essay-tips-deadlines/
http://gmatclub.com/blog/2014/09/johnson-at-cornell-university-2015-mba-essay-tips-deadlines/#commentsThu, 04 Sep 2014 17:00:04 +0000http://gmatclub.com/blog/?p=25451Are you looking for a close-knit, collaborative MBA program focused on experiential learning, committed to innovation, and further differentiated by an immersion learning component? Plus, it's located on an Ivy League campus with all the resources and networking opportunities the larger community provides. Still interested? You've found it at Cornell Johnson.

1. Social media count. For LinkedIn in particular, keep your profile up-to-date and professional. Make sure it's something you're proud of and happy to have others view.

2. Much of MBA admissions is driven by prospective employment at graduation. Schools want to know that you have the experience to attract recruiter attention and to land a great post-MBA job. Many, many schools will at some point in the application evaluation process seek input from career services if they have any doubt about the attainability of your post-MBA goals. Let your profile and any information about your professional experience speak to that point.

Finally since your LinkedIn profile doesn't have the tight limits you have in your MBA application, you may be able to provide more context and information there than here. However, no one wants to read a detailed autobiography on LinkedIn. Keep your job descriptions within reason if you do give Cornell access to your profile.

1. You are the author for the book of Your Life Story. In 2000 characters (including formatting characters) or less, please write the table of contents for the book in the space provided or upload it as an attachment. Note: approach this essay with your unique style. We value creativity and authenticity.

Have a little fun with the question. You certainly have a lot of options and flexibility here. You can reveal something about your youth, influential experiences or people, challenges, hobbies, interests, passions… Perhaps where you intend to be in 30 years. It’s Your Life Story.

2. Targeted Job Type: What is the job that you would like to have immediately upon graduating with your MBA? (2000 character limit, including formatting characters)

Be concrete in describing what you would like to do. "Pursue a position that I find personally satisfying" or "Have a positive impact on society" are non-starters. What task do you want to perform and in what industry do you want to perform it? The answer to that question is the foundation of your response to Cornell's question.

2000 characters is a little less than 400 words so you may give a little background as to how this goal developed or why your previous experience when combined with a Johnson MBA, will help you achieve it.

3. Post-Collegiate Activities: List community activities (clubs, church, civic, etc.) and professional associations you contributed to since graduation from college. Please include the organization name, your role, hours dedicated, elected offices held, and dates of participation. (2000 character limit, including formatting characters)

Depending on how many activities you have, you may be able to go into a little detail or you may need to just stick to the facts. As much as possible, highlight evidence of impact, leadership, and collaborative teamwork. Quantify if you can.

4. Collegiate Activities and Employment: List your extracurricular activities while in college in order of importance to you. You may include details about your positions and the time commitment, honors or awards received, and dates of participation. The list may also include part-time and summer employment held while in college. Please list your employer, job title, responsibilities, hours per week, and the dates for each position. (2000 character limit, including formatting characters)

Very similar to #3, highlight impact, leadership and teamwork. Quantify when possible. The one twist with this question: list the extracurricular activities in order of importance to you.

5. Hobbies and Activities: Please describe any hobbies or activities that hold special significance for you. (2000 character limit, including formatting characters)

What do you do regularly when you aren't working? Which of these activities would you like Johnson to know about? If you have too many to fit in the 2000 character limit, then choose those that show you contributing innovatively to your community and taking initiative.

Optional Essay: Complete this essay if you would like to add additional details regarding your candidacy. For instance, if you believe one or more aspects of your application (e.g., undergraduate record or test scores) do not accurately reflect your potential for success at the Johnson School. (2000 character limit, including formatting characters)

Clearly you can use this optional to add context for a weakness in your record. Either a low stat or a period of unemployment or some dip in an otherwise strong record of achievement.However the wording is pretty open. If there is something positive or if you want to provide context for an achievement -- challenges you overcome or circumstances that made your accomplishment even more noteworthy -- you can also do so here.

]]>http://gmatclub.com/blog/2014/09/johnson-at-cornell-university-2015-mba-essay-tips-deadlines/feed/0Why Johnson? An Admitted Student Shares her Journeyhttp://gmatclub.com/blog/2014/08/follow-up-mba-interview-with-johnson-student-debra-yoo/
http://gmatclub.com/blog/2014/08/follow-up-mba-interview-with-johnson-student-debra-yoo/#commentsSun, 24 Aug 2014 21:00:09 +0000http://gmatclub.com/blog/?p=25350This interview is the latest in an Accepted.com blog series featuring interviews with current MBA students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at top MBA programs. And now for a follow up interview with Debra Yoo, who was recently accepted to Johnson at Cornell University. (We first met Debra last year – you can read our first interview with her here.)

Accepted: Welcome back! Can you just remind our readers -- where are you from? Where and what did you study as an undergrad? Do you hold any other degrees?

Debra: I grew up in the Chicagoland area and attended Columbia University for undergrad where I majored in English and Asian American Studies along with completing Columbia's Creative Writing Program (as you can see, I did not have a very business-oriented background!). After spending a few more years in NYC, I moved to Los Angeles with my husband. We were there for about four years before we relocated to Ithaca last month.

Accepted: Congrats on gaining accepted to Johnson! What are the 3 main traits of the Johnson school that attracted you to it?

Debra:

1) The people. Of all the students and alumni that I contacted at the various schools I applied to, those who attended Johnson had the highest response rate--by far. And not only did they respond promptly, they answered my questions very thoroughly and honestly. I was so impressed. It really speaks to the quality of Johnson's smaller, tight-knit community.

2) The location. I know, I know--many folks out there don't apply to Johnson because of its location, but Ithaca really appealed to me. Aside from its natural beauty, I wanted to be in a small town where I could get to know my fellow students without the distractions of a big city. I'm finding that many others here also had the same mindset when they chose Johnson, which once again shows that community is a high priority for most everyone here.

3) Johnson's immersion program. I didn't want my schooling to be completely academic and theoretical--I wanted as much hands-on experience as I could possibly get. At Johnson, most of the core coursework (accounting, finance, marketing, etc.) is completed during the first semester of the first year, leaving time during the second semester to complete an in-depth consulting project for a real-life company. For the marketing immersion, students in the past have completed projects for companies including Microsoft, Bayer and HP.

Accepted: How did you go about researching schools? Did you participate in any MBA fairs or events?

Debra: I attended a Forte Forum in Los Angeles in August 2013, which was unbelievably helpful. The Forum really helped me finalize my choices of schools; at that point, I had pored over a ton of websites but hadn't made any connections with the schools in person. I looked into other MBA fairs, but none of them had all the schools I wanted to apply to--maybe two or three at most. The Forte Forum was the only event that had almost all the top schools present. If you are a woman planning on applying to top 20 b-schools, the forum is a great way to speak to recruiters from them in one room. And you get to do it in a smaller, female crowd. It's wonderful all around.

Aside from the forum, I also emailed/spoke with ambassadors and alumni at all the schools I was interested in. I was originally planning on staying in the nonprofit space after graduating, so I had many questions about nontraditional paths that I wanted answers to. Speaking with the right alumni whose careers post-b-school resonated with me played a lot into my final decision making.

I was told that it was really important to visit campuses in person before applying, but I did not have the resources or time to do so. For a long time I agonized over whether I was decreasing my chances of admission by not doing campus visits, but I believe the impact was minimal (if it impacted me at all). But if you're able to visit campuses, you really should! They can give you great fodder for your essays and help you make sure that the school is the right place for you.

Accepted: Can you talk about your experience with the Forte Foundation? What do they do and how have they helped you?

Debra: I love the Forte Foundation, and I owe much of my success so far to their support!

The Forte Foundation is a consortium of top b-schools and leading companies who support women in business. Women still have a ways to go when it comes to equal representation in business, especially in senior management. It's an issue we all need to remain aware of and take thoughtful and deliberate actions to address.

I first discovered Forte when I started my MBA application process, and I'm so glad I did. I never thought that I would one day attend business school, so I was really starting my learning from scratch. I listened to several of Forte's free webinars about the application process and read through their entire website for guidance.

I am also very thankful to have been selected a Forte Fellow by the Johnson admissions team. In addition to receiving a scholarship (that I am very, very grateful to have!), being a Fellow comes with many other benefits including networking opportunities and support for your job search.

I also attended the 2014 Forte MBA Women's Leadership Conference that was held in Los Angeles earlier this year. It was an amazing feeling to be surrounded by hundreds of other talented, ambitious women who were all about to begin their MBA journeys. And it was also a great way to kick off our new lives as students and remind us that we are all working together toward closing the gender gap in business.

Accepted: Have you taken any classes or prepared in any other way to your smooth transition to business school?

Debra: I have never taken a single economics or statistics course in my entire life, much less accounting or finance. I was really concerned about my lack of experience in the area, so I completed an online pre-MBA mathematics course at a nearby university earlier this year. It exposed me to some of the common terms and calculations I'll come across in school.

Johnson also provided us access to mbamath.com (I believe several other business schools do this, also) over the summer. I've been working my way through the units on finance, economics and statistics to prepare myself.

In addition to all the math, I switched my leisure reading time to business-related books, including authors like Malcolm Gladwell, Dale Carnegie and Sheryl Sandberg.

Accepted: What sort of career do you plan on pursuing post-MBA?

Debra: My background so far is in marketing/communications in the nonprofit sector. After school, I plan on doing marketing in the corporate world in the consumer packaged goods industry. I am hoping to return to the nonprofit sector later on down the line at a senior management level.

Accepted: B-school's not cheap! Do you have tips for financing an MBA?

Debra: It's tough; really, really tough. The (very) few third-party scholarships I've found out there are for very specific populations and are for smaller amounts. All I can say is to really take your future career path into account when considering the cost of your program. If you are planning on entering the nonprofit space, look for schools with loan forgiveness programs like Yale or Stanford. And if you get scholarship offers, try negotiating the amount. When budgeting, keep a large buffer for travel expenses. Also check out loan alternatives like Common Bond. There's some interesting stuff out there if you look for it!

Accepted: Do you have any advice for applicants about the start the MBA admissions journey?

Debra: Go beyond rankings, career placement stats and average starting salaries when narrowing down your options. Try to get as good a feel as you can for the community and the types of people at the schools you're interested in. I think a good way to measure this is whether you feel a desire to contribute to and help develop and grow that community. You'll be spending the next two years with those people and they will be your professional network for the rest of your life, so find a good match!

]]>http://gmatclub.com/blog/2014/08/follow-up-mba-interview-with-johnson-student-debra-yoo/feed/0Introducing Johnson at Cornell University’s New LinkedIn-Enhanced MBA Applicationhttp://gmatclub.com/blog/2014/07/introducing-johnson-at-cornell-universitys-new-linkedin-enhanced-mba-application/
http://gmatclub.com/blog/2014/07/introducing-johnson-at-cornell-universitys-new-linkedin-enhanced-mba-application/#commentsSun, 20 Jul 2014 14:30:42 +0000http://gmatclub.com/blog/?p=24888According to an Inside Higher Ed article, “LinkedIn to M.B.A. Admissions,” Cornell Johnson MBA applicants can now fill out parts of their application with information drawn from their LinkedIn profiles. Cornell officials say they are breaking ground with this system of incorporating LI features into their application process.

While using LinkedIn isn’t required for admissions, applicants may find this feature helpful, enabling them to fill out their application faster. When applying with the LI-enhanced feature, students must give Cornell access to their entire LinkedIn profile; they don’t apply directly from LI, but rather from the Cornell-hosted application system.

This application should further encourage applicants to maintain a LinkedIn profile in tip-top condition that’s accurate and consistent with their resumes and the other elements that they’ll be presenting to the admissions committee. Now, Cornell adcom won’t just sometimes glance at LI profiles of applicants as they were accustomed to doing previously, but will make LI profiles a mainstay of the application, at least for those who decide to apply using this method.

The LI-enhanced application was launched on July 1st for Cornell Johnson, after a test run in May for the university’s Cornell Tech program. Officials maintain that the new application offers much more insight into the applicants, enabling adcom to view the students as employers and recruiters view them.

]]>http://gmatclub.com/blog/2014/07/introducing-johnson-at-cornell-universitys-new-linkedin-enhanced-mba-application/feed/0Leadership, Tech, & Forte: IV with a Cornell MBA Studenthttp://gmatclub.com/blog/2014/06/leadership-tech-forte-iv-with-a-cornell-mba-student/
http://gmatclub.com/blog/2014/06/leadership-tech-forte-iv-with-a-cornell-mba-student/#commentsMon, 02 Jun 2014 15:43:11 +0000http://gmatclub.com/blog/?p=24116This interview is the latest in an Accepted.com blog series featuring interviews with current MBA students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at top MBA programs. And now, introducing Sarah Markels Maynard, a second year student at Cornell Johnson…

Accepted: We'd like to get to know you! Where are you from? Where and what did you study as an undergrad?

Sarah: I grew up in sunny San Diego, California. For college, I ventured back east to Wellesley College, where I majored in Physics. Something that I did not appreciate until after graduating from Wellesley was how empowering it had been to have strong, smart, and capable women in all of the leadership roles around me. It was incredibly inspiring for me and I feel that it helped motivate me to excel in hard science fields that I wouldn’t have normally felt comfortable pursuing. This is why it has been especially important to me to be involved in the Forte Foundation and other activities that support women in pursuing their desired careers.

Accepted: Where are you in b-school? What year?

Sarah: It is hard to believe, but I will be graduating in a few short weeks from the two-year MBA program at Johnson at Cornell University. The two years go by far more quickly than you think that they will! After graduation, I am excited to say that I will be joining GE Capital ECLP, a rotational commercial leadership program.

Accepted: What's your favorite thing about Johnson?

Sarah: I was originally attracted to Johnson’s tight-knit community and found that I truly connected to all of the students that I met while exploring my options for business school. Over the course of my two years I have found that Johnson really does hold up to my initial impressions. The faculty is superb and I love that the school truly responds to student concerns. In direct response to student and faculty input, Johnson is going to be revising its core curriculum for the upcoming year to better address student needs.

Accepted: Are you involved in any clubs on campus? How central to student life is club involvement?

Sarah: While at Johnson, I have gotten extremely involved in the community – it adds a lot to the business school experience because it enables you to reach different groups across campus and give back to the community. As a Forte Fellow, I have been involved in several of the recruiting events for women interested in business school and I served as a student representative on the Diversity Council and the female subcommittee. Additionally, I served as President of the Women’s Management Council, VP of Marketing of the High Tech Club, and, most recently, I co-founded the Johnson Women in Technology Conference with one of my fellow second year classmates at Johnson.

Accepted: Can you tell us about the Women in Technology Conference?

Sarah: In my first year in business school, I went on a trek to Seattle to visit some of the high tech companies in the city. I shared a room with my classmate, Melissa Adeyanju, who was interested in pursuing a career at a tech company but was uncertain about her chances given her non-engineering background. Having worked in tech, I knew that a degree in engineering was certainly not a requirement! We spoke about ways that we could foster a community for women who were interesting in finding a future in tech and ultimately founded the Johnson Women in Technology (JWiT) Conference. The first year’s theme was “Power Up Your Future” and our aim was to start a conversation for women interested in investing in their futures in technology. We had an excellent line up of speakers and panels. We have already picked the new co-chairs for next year’s conference, so mark your calendars for March 20, 2015!

Accepted: Can you talk about your experience with the Forte Foundation?

Sarah: I’m very proud to be a Forte Fellow and greatly value the doors that it opens up for female MBA Candidates. They hold an annual conference for women joining Forte Sponsor MBA programs and I highly recommend attending the conference, regardless of whether or not you are a Forte Fellow. I met some of my closest friends at Johnson at the Forte Conference in 2012 in Los Angeles. The conference is a great place to not only meet other incoming students, but also get some tips for hitting the ground running once you start your program.

Accepted: What would you say are your top 3 MBA admissions tips?

Sarah:

1. Know yourself – Understand your top three defining characteristics and weave these descriptions throughout your application and interviews. Knowing who you are and your defining strengths is key not only to getting into business school, but also finding your perfect career after business school.

2. Paint a clear picture of your future – When thinking about business school and writing your application, I realized that I had to do a lot of soul searching of how an MBA truly fit into my future and how it would help me get where I wanted to go. You should have a clear idea of the skills and experiences that only an MBA program can provide. Even more, you need to understand what you will bring to that MBA program.

3. Get to know current students – For most programs you are going to be dedicating two years of your life to your education. This means taking yourself out of the workforce and using that time to invest in yourself. You need to make sure that you actually like the people that you will be spending time with, especially during the demanding curriculum that many of the top programs will give you.

]]>http://gmatclub.com/blog/2014/06/leadership-tech-forte-iv-with-a-cornell-mba-student/feed/0Meet David, Cornell Johson MBA Student Headed to Bainhttp://gmatclub.com/blog/2014/05/iv-with-a-cornell-johnson-second-year-student-headed-to-bain/
http://gmatclub.com/blog/2014/05/iv-with-a-cornell-johnson-second-year-student-headed-to-bain/#commentsFri, 16 May 2014 15:40:51 +0000http://gmatclub.com/blog/?p=23853This interview is the latest in an Accepted.com blog series featuring interviews with current MBA students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at top MBA programs(or in this case, a top JD/MBA program). And now for a follow up interview with David Schuette, a second-year student from Johnson at Cornell University. (We first met David last year – you can read our first interview with him here.)

Accepted: How did your second year at Johnson differ from your first year?

David: The second year at Johnson is quite different from the first. Second year course load is fully customizable and activities largely focus on giving back to the first year students. It’s also a bit less stressful (though not less busy!), as most people don’t have to worry about a job search because they loved their internship and Johnson has the highest internship conversion into full-time offers of any MBA program.

Why isn’t it any less busy? Johnson second year students spend the whole first half of the year pouring countless hours into preparing first years for interacting with companies and interview prep. In fact, while the Career Management Center (CMC) is fully supportive of helping students find their way, the majority of training comes from clubs, career workgroups, and informal mentoring while the CMC provides behind the scenes structure and support to those groups. It’s a fantastic system that works well due to our supportive community at Johnson.

The second half of the year is all about second years solidifying their network of friends and having fun. There is more time for BBQs, weekend trips, or global treks. It’s also a great chance to take classes outside of Johnson; lots of people explore the broader Cornell campus taking classes ranging from programming, to philosophy, to the oft mentioned wines course at the Hotel School.

Accepted: Congratulations on your new job at Bain! How did you receive this offer?

David: Thanks! I’m really excited to be starting in Chicago this fall. The process for full-time recruiting was very similar to internship recruiting except that it happens much more quickly and much earlier (done by November versus February). The actual interview process was identical in structure to internship recruiting, meaning another grueling written case as well as the standard case and behavioral interviews.

Accepted: What was the role of Johnson in your job search and landing the position?

David: When thinking about what role Johnson had in landing my position at Bain, I believe in taking a very broad view of the question. As anybody will tell you, business is all about the network. I think it’s safe to say that it would have been impossible for me to land a position at Bain without attending a program that had a great relationship with Bain.

Similarly, I wouldn’t have been prepared for the interview if not for the collaborative recruiting mentality that we have at Johnson. My peer network was crucial in helping me prepare for my interviews, regardless of what company they were going to.

Accepted: Did your involvement in the consulting club play a role in getting your job at Bain? If so, how?

David: It’s always hard to say what factors are being considered behind the scenes. What I do know is that as VP of Education, it was my job to know the material inside and out and communicate that to first year students. I actually believe it’s the latter part that was the most helpful. Consulting is all about working a problem and then explaining that solution in a way the client can understand. By going through the process of being a teacher to first years, I believe my interpersonal skills were refined in a way that made my interviews (case and behavioral) more like conversations.

I suppose the extra reps on case practice also made me much more comfortable with the process. I didn’t necessarily learn the material any better, but by being more comfortable with it I was able to relax and let my personality come through.

Accepted: As you look back on your almost two years at Johnson, is there anything you would have done differently?

David: With time winding down, I have thought about this a lot. While there were things I didn’t get to do, an MBA is pretty packed and so trade-offs have to be made. You simply cannot do everything and I don’t want to confuse things I wish I could have done with things I wish I would have done. So I guess my only regret is that I wish I had found a way to make each day longer!

Accepted: What now is your favorite class, project or activity?

David: Management Simulation - this is a class that is as simple as it is elegant. You start by having to decide fewer than 10 numbers to input and it just grows in complexity from there. You must forecast demand, predict competitive responses (from other teams), determine pricing strategy, evaluate capital structure, and a bunch of other things.

In some ways it is just a game. But in other ways it shows just how much I’ve learned over the last 2 years. Things like cash flow, multiple market pricing strategies, return on equity, advertising and R&D investment, competitive analysis, and many other principles all play a role in running the ‘company’ successfully.

I don’t think I could have asked for a better class to round out my MBA.

Accepted: Do you have advice for MBA applicants applying in 2015?

David: On my blog for Johnson, I recently did an extensive write-up on Picking a Program, which was targeted at individuals trying to make a choice between schools, but I believe it would also be a great read for prospective students looking to apply.

In short, get connected to people and ask specific questions. I must have talked to over 10 people at Johnson prior to writing my essays to make sure I had a good sense of what the culture was. It wasn’t just to check a box – that won’t help you; you have to actually be interested for a person to open up to you. Also, I didn’t just try to talk to the president of the consulting club, but also the public speaking club, the beer club, Johnson bloggers, and a few others.

Accepted: What advice would you give MBA students starting business school in September?

David: Take time for yourself. Things can get crazy busy in an MBA. At times it is with classes and at other times it’s with social events. Some people relax with video games, others with yoga, and still others by writing. Whatever your method of relaxation, take time to do it. You might not realize how bad you need time for reflection when you’re in the thick of it, so think about it ahead of time. Block in off in your calendar. Whatever you do, take that time for you.

It’s going to be an amazing 2 years. Good luck!

For one-on-one guidance on your b-school applications, please see our MBA Application Packages. For specific advice on how to create the best application for Johnson see:

]]>http://gmatclub.com/blog/2014/05/iv-with-a-cornell-johnson-second-year-student-headed-to-bain/feed/0Cornell Johnson: A Visithttp://gmatclub.com/blog/2014/04/cornell-johnson-a-visit/
http://gmatclub.com/blog/2014/04/cornell-johnson-a-visit/#commentsTue, 08 Apr 2014 21:36:25 +0000http://gmatclub.com/blog/?p=23504I recently had the opportunity to visit the Johnson School of Business at Cornell University. A few elements in my visit really stand out, and I want to share them with you.

Class visit I attended a Managing and Leading in Organizations class taught by Dr. Kathleen O’Connor. She led with wit and humor a lively case discussion on Lincoln Electric. The high level of engagement impressed me. I sat at the back of a theater style classroom so I had a great vantage point. No one was surfing the web, checking email, or visiting Facebook pages. All were focused on the discussion at hand, and the overwhelming majority seemed highly prepared to deal with the questions posed, whether they volunteered answers or were cold-called.

I was also impressed with Dr. O’Connor’s practical approach. She mentioned early in the class that one outcome must be learning something from Lincoln Electric’s success that could be applied by the MBA students in future work. My sense was that her orientation is not unique to her or this particular case.

I met with a first-year MBA student before the class, and he proudly told me that he has a summer internship lined up, and that it was exactly what he had hoped for. He seems very happy with his Cornell Johnson experience. After class, when I commented on the lack of electronics in the classroom, he explained that Johnson classrooms are electronics-free zones. Wise policy.

Meeting I also met with Christine Sneva, Executive Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, and Ann Richards, Associate Director of Admissions and Director of Financial Aid Latin America, East & Southeast Asia. Here are a few highlights of our discussion.

Portfolio of programs We spoke about the portfolio of graduate business programs Cornell Johnson has developed over the last several years, focusing mostly on the MBA programs. It was clear from our discussion that the two-year program and the different one-year programs each fill different needs in the graduate management education marketplace. Ann and Christine spoke proudly of the May launch of Cornell Tech’s one-year MBA program in Manhattan and its digital focus. They acknowledged the broadening of the one-year Ithaca program from one geared to people with advanced degrees in science and technical fields to one for people with an expanded array of higher educational achievement including JD, CPA, and other masters and advanced degrees. Then of course there is the two-year Ithaca program geared towards those seeking a broader and more traditional MBA education. They also indicated that other options may be coming.

Entrepreneurship A big buzz word and focus in top business schools now is entrepreneurship. While entrepreneurship is great, and I know my MBA was critical to my launching Accepted, I also know that it is still a path pursued upon graduation by less than 5% of new MBAs. I expressed a certain skepticism about the current entrepreneurial obsession and received two great responses: 1) Many MBAs start their own business further down the road so ultimately they will be business owners. 2) Entrepreneurship is state of mind, a willingness to take risks and start something new. This mindset is something that can be taught and is valuable for existing companies who want to grow and respond to a dynamic and fluid market place. Cornell, which has evinced its own entrepreneurial spirit with the growth of Cornell Tech and the expansion of its programs, is walking the walk and talking the talk. Ann and Christine also told me that Ithaca is growing as an entrepreneurial hub for a few reasons:

1. The University resources are right there.

2. Since the cost of living is low, it is more affordable to attempt a start-up.

3. New York State is giving major tax breaks to start-ups in Northern New York.

4. Quality of life is good.

I’m glad I was able to visit Cornell even briefly. It’s in a gorgeous part of the country and housed in a magnificent facility. Enjoying the surroundings is a bonus, but the real value lies in seeing a school close-up, talking to members of its community, and being able to add greater context and insight to information found online, in brochures, and even gleaned from conversations. There is simply nothing like a visit when you want to learn about a school.

One of the most important things to keep in mind is brevity. While no one is going to be counting individual words, the guideline of short word count is a clear indicator to work on clarity of thought with all of your answers. Cornell interviews every applicant to its program, so if you are concerned that your answers are too concise in essay format, rest assured you will have the opportunity to discuss them further in the interview.

1. In a concise statement, indicate why you are seeking admission into an Executive MBA Program. Specifically, what are your short and long-term career goals? And, how will an MBA from Johnson at Cornell University help you achieve your goals? (Please limit your response to 400 words.)*

The first part of this question asks “Why EMBA?” By making the choice to go after an EMBA, you are of course signaling you will keep your job while going to school. Therefore, be sure to link your past/current career experience with your short and long term goals in the context of how (and why) this type of format works best for you. When answering the “Why Cornell?” portion of the question, be convincing about the reasons Cornell is the best choice for you, and show you have done your homework – “location” and “reputation” won’t cut it. The admissions committee wants to know what you anticipate the program will be like, what you will get out of it, how the program fits with your career vision, and what the entire experience means to you as a person.

2. A key benefit of being in an Executive MBA Program is having the ability to learn from your classmates, or peers. How will you contribute to this learning environment? Specifically, what unique strengths and experiences will you bring to both the class and your learning team? (Please limit your response to 250 words.)*

The admissions committee is looking for students who will enrich the class with their contributions as much as the curriculum taught. Focus on unique experiences you have had either in your professional or personal life, and if possible, link those experiences to how they will contribute to particular courses or topics.

Imagine that the admissions committee is reviewing your application side by side with someone with a similar basic profile to yours (technology consultant, for example) – what will make them choose you?

3. List your participation in civic, business, or professional organizations.

This question is purposely open to interpretation. If you would just like to list what organizations you are affiliated with that is fine, however if you would like to go into some detail about particular activities that are important to you, that is good, too. There is no word limit, however the more succinct, the better.

4. (Optional): Do you believe your academic record is an accurate reflection of your ability? If not, please explain, limiting the response to 250 words or less.

If you are hoping the admissions committee will miss the fact that you flunked algebra three times before passing, or you had to withdraw for a semester, think again. The committee WILL catch whatever that nagging something is that concerns you from your transcript, so here is the opportunity to talk about it. Be as candid as possible! It is much better to be upfront about the situation here than be on the defensive about it in an interview.

Jen Weld worked as an admissions consultant and Former Asst. Dir. of Admissions at Cornell’s EMBA program (4 years) prior to joining Accepted.com. She has an additional 10 years of experience in higher ed and corporate marketing.